Whether Penance Originates from Fear?
Objection 1: It would seem that penance does not originate from fear.
For penance originates in displeasure at sin. But this belongs to
charity, as stated above (A. 3). Therefore penance originates from
love rather than fear.
Obj. 2: Further, men are induced to do penance, through the
expectation of the heavenly kingdom, according to Matt. 3:2 and Matt.
4:17: "Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Now the
kingdom of heaven is the object of hope. Therefore penance results
from hope rather than from fear.
Obj. 3: Further, fear is an internal act of man. But penance does not
seem to arise in us through any work of man, but through the
operation of God, according to Jer. 31:19: "After Thou didst convert
me I did penance." Therefore penance does not result from fear.
_On the contrary,_ It is written (Isa. 26:17): "As a woman with
child, when she draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain,
and crieth out in her pangs, so ere we become," by penance, to wit;
and according to another [*The Septuagint] version the text
continues: "Through fear of Thee, O Lord, we have conceived, and been
as it were in labor, and have brought forth the spirit of salvation,"
i.e. of salutary penance, as is clear from what precedes. Therefore
penance results from fear.
_I answer that,_ We may speak of penance in two ways: first, as to
the habit, and then it is infused by God immediately without our
operating as principal agents, but not without our co-operating
dispositively by certain acts. Secondly, we may speak of penance,
with regard to the acts whereby in penance we co-operate with God
operating, the first principle [*Cf. I-II, Q. 113] of which acts is
the operation of God in turning the heart, according to Lam. 5:21:
"Convert us, O Lord, to Thee, and we shall be converted"; the second,
an act of faith; the third, a movement of servile fear, whereby a man
is withdrawn from sin through fear of punishment; the fourth, a
movement of hope, whereby a man makes a purpose of amendment, in the
hope of obtaining pardon; the fifth, a movement of charity, whereby
sin is displeasing to man for its own sake and no longer for the sake
of the punishment; the sixth, a movement of filial fear whereby a
man, of his own accord, offers to make amends to God through fear of
Him.
Accordingly it is evident that the act of penance results from
servile fear as from the first movement of the appetite in this
direction and from filial fear as from its immediate and proper
principle.
Reply Obj. 1: Sin begins to displease a man, especially a sinner, on
account of the punishments which servile fear regards, before it
displeases him on account of its being an offense against God, or on
account of its wickedness, which pertains to charity.
Reply Obj. 2: When the kingdom of heaven is said to be at hand, we
are to understand that the king is on his way, not only to reward but
also to punish. Wherefore John the Baptist said (Matt. 3:7): "Ye
brood of vipers, who hath showed you to flee from the wrath to come?"
Reply Obj. 3: Even the movement of fear proceeds from God's act in
turning the heart; wherefore it is written (Deut. 5:29): "Who shall
give them to have such a mind, to fear Me?" And so the fact that
penance results from fear does not hinder its resulting from the act
of God in turning the heart.
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